Furnace Repair

Gas furnace problems usually trace back to the ignitor, flame sensor, or draft inducer. Electric furnaces come back to heating elements and sequencers. Heat-pump-based systems need different diagnostics altogether, and that is where factory training pays off. We work with all three. Safety comes first on every gas furnace call: we test carbon monoxide levels, gas valve function, and heat exchanger integrity.

What’s included:

• Full system inspection (burners, heat exchanger, blower, controls)
• Carbon monoxide testing (gas furnaces)
• Gas valve and pilot/ignitor diagnostics
• Electrical component testing
• Airflow and duct inspection
• Written estimate before any repair
• Emergency gas leak response protocol
• Performance logs for next visit

Common Bay Area furnace failures:

• Hot surface ignitor cracks (most common modern failure, $200 to $350 to replace)
• Flame sensor carbon buildup (cleaning often fixes it; $150 to $200 if replacement is needed)
• Draft inducer motor wear on systems past 12 years ($400 to $700)
• Heat exchanger cracking on systems past 18 years (safety issue, usually means replacement; we show you the crack on camera before quoting)
• Pilot light issues on older systems (almost all 1990s and earlier units)

When to replace, not repair:

A 15-plus-year furnace with a major component failure (heat exchanger crack, control board burn, multiple gas valve failures) is usually past the point where repair makes financial sense. The same applies if your home has reached the point where heat pump conversion qualifies for stacked rebates. We run that math at the estimate.

Gas safety:

We carry CO meters on every gas furnace call. If we find dangerous CO levels or a confirmed heat exchanger crack, we shut the system down before leaving. You get the documentation. The next step is yours.